711.7412A/10

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Bulgaria (Wilson)

No. 271

Sir: The Department, in its No. 250 of April 30, 1928,4 informed you that, on April 20th, it had submitted to the Bulgarian Minister in Washington drafts of a proposed treaty of arbitration and of a proposed treaty of conciliation between the United States and Bulgaria. On April 23, 1928, the Bulgarian Minister advised the Department of the receipt of these drafts and of their communication by him to his Government.

This Government has now offered similar treaties of arbitration to thirty countries and similar treaties of conciliation to twenty countries and has proceeded to the signature of eight arbitration treaties and five conciliation treaties. It is desirable that as large a number as possible of these treaties shall be signed before the convening of Congress on December 3, in order that they may be submitted to the Senate for its advice and consent.

On the other hand, the Department desires to maintain as far as practicable the uniformity of this series of treaties and would avoid alterations at the suggestion of the other countries as far as possible. It would avoid, through an appearance of too great anxiety in the matter, inviting other countries to feel that they can readily obtain changes in the draft treaties.

Keeping the foregoing in mind, however, you are requested to make an effort to expedite the consideration of this matter by the Bulgarian Government and to encourage it to instruct its Minister at this capital to proceed to signature at an early date.

I am [etc.]

Frank B. Kellogg
  1. Not printed; see Department’s telegram No. 7, supra.